Equivalency Education Programme Boosts Employment Opportunities for Mining-Area Residents
The Equivalency Education Programme (Paket A, B, and C) implemented by PT Multi Harapan Utama (MHU) in the mining area of Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan, continues to deliver significant social impact for local communities.
Since its launch in 2019, the programme has enabled 869 residents to obtain equivalency diplomas, opening broader access to employment and higher education. Of these, 212 graduates are now employed across various sectors, including service companies, security firms, and independent businesses.
The initiative arose from a social mapping exercise that revealed high school dropout rates in the company’s Ring 1 operational area. Out of approximately 52,000 residents across 10 villages near the mining site, 34% had not completed formal education.
To address this challenge, PT Multi Harapan Utama (MHU) partnered with PKBM Puteri Karang Melenu to deliver the equivalency education programme as part of long-term community development.
In addition to Paket A, B, and C education, the programme provides learning facilities, renovates community learning centres (PKBM), supplies computers, and offers vocational training such as heavy equipment operation and culinary skills.
One beneficiary, Yeni Yuniarni, credited the company’s educational support for enabling her to pursue university studies and participate in a student exchange programme to South Korea.
“I once thought I wouldn’t be able to attend university due to my family’s circumstances. But this scholarship transformed my life. I not only continued my education but also gained the opportunity to study in Korea,” she said.
MHU President Director Kemal Djamil Siregar stated the company views education as a long-term investment to improve community quality of life.
“This equivalency education and scholarship programme is not merely social aid but a long-term investment to open access, opportunities, and a better future for communities around our operational areas,” he said.
The MHU equivalency education programme received the Indonesia Best CSR Awards 2026, presented by The Iconomics at the Ministry of Social Affairs’ Aneka Bhakti Building in Jakarta.
It also recorded a Social Return on Investment (SROI) of 3.59, meaning every Rp1 invested generates Rp3.59 in social benefits for the community. Additionally, the programme achieved a Community Satisfaction Index (CSI) of 93.06, rated “Very Good”.
Moving forward, the company plans to strengthen the education programme through improved learning quality, expanded vocational training, and enhanced collaboration with local governments and stakeholders to ensure sustainable access to education for the community.